What does ravish mean?
Ravish is a verb with a modern primary meaning of seizing or sexually violating a person by force. Because of this association with rape and violent seizure, it is often used in historical, legal, or literary descriptions of atrocities, and it may function as a blunt euphemism for sexual violence. The word also has an older, now chiefly literary meaning: to enchant or delight someone intensely, as when a performance “ravishes” an audience. That older sense explains expressions such as “be ravished with joy,” though it can sound dated today. Ravish comes through Old French from the Latin verb rapere, meaning “to seize” or “carry off,” the same root underlying rapture, rapt, rapacious, and rapine. The contrast between its violent and enchantment senses makes the word especially notable: one meaning is associated with coercion, while the other conveys overwhelming admiration or pleasure.
To seize or carry off someone by force, especially to rape a person; more broadly, to plunder or ravage.
"The account states that the invaders ravished the village and killed its defenders."
In its principal modern use, the verb refers to sexual violence and is often deliberately direct rather than euphemistic.
To enchant, captivate, or fill someone with intense delight.
"The young violinist ravished the concert hall with her final performance."
This is an archaic or literary sense and is chiefly used in figurative expressions.
From the same Latin root as rapture, “ravish” has traveled from violent seizure to poetic enchantment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ravish come from?
Ravish entered English through Old French ravir, from Latin rapere, “to seize, snatch, or carry off.” The Latin root also produced English words such as rapt, rapture, rapacious, and rapine. Its original sense of forcible seizure developed a modern association with rape, while the older sense of capturing or enchantment survives in literary usage.
Related word forms
How ravish is actually used
The modern word has a strongly violent and often sexual sense and may be euphemistic or used in historical descriptions of sexual violence. The older sense of enchantment or intense delight survives mainly in literary and poetic contexts.
Easily confused with ravish
Ravish chiefly means to seize or sexually violate someone by force, whereas ravage usually means to destroy or damage a place or property severely.